THUNDER BAY – Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel time of year for Canadians.
Northwestern Ontario is no different.
Both Health Minister Patty Hajdu and Thunder Bay District Health Unit medical officer of health Dr. Janet DeMille are urging local residents to strongly reconsider the urge to venture beyond their home communities, as COVID-19 case counts continue to surge in many parts of the country.
Hajdu said staying home is the best option in 2020, as tough as it might be not to be able to see friends and family this holiday season.
“Try not to be mobile, if at all possible,” Hajdu said.
“And when you do travel, follow precautions that will keep yourself safer. A big part of this is limiting our gatherings, and when we are gathering with people, to do it safely.”
While Thunder Bay has done relatively well, other parts of Ontario have seen COVID-19 confirmations soar in recent weeks.
The province has been hovering around the 400 mark in recent days. Quebec reported more than 500 on Friday, while Winnipeg has hundreds of acting cases, prompting the Northwest Health Unit to advise residents west of Thunder Bay to strongly consider not travelling.
Hajdu said if travel is a must, maintain physical distancing, keep one’s face covered and diligently wash hands.
“The less mobility we have, the less gathering we have, the less likely we are to spread it to our loved ones. But there are some people that have jobs that require them to travel. There are also persons that for personal reasons require travel,” Hajdu said.
“It is a personal risk assessment, but there are ways we can do it more safely.”
DeMille agreed staying home is best, something she’s advised all along.
“We don’t have a lot of COVID here right now, that we’re aware of,” she said. “And certainly we see it happening in other areas. So I think when anyone is thinking about going outside our area and coming back, they need to recognize that depending where they go, they could bring COVID back.
“We know people are taking those precautions and checking themselves and monitoring. We know that’s already happening. So our position is very much that if you are going somewhere else, make sure you’re very mindful you could be bringing COVID back.”
DeMille said it’s also a good idea for people to check the coronavirus rates in any destination they might be considering.
“I do think people should be looking ahead at their travel plans, what they might have planned around Thanksgiving, and really be considering whether they should be traveling and recognizing the implications potentially for them and their families.”
There are no restrictions on travelers entering Northwestern Ontario, whether visiting or returning home. Travelers to Atlantic Canada must self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival, and in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, must meet strict visitor criteria to be allowed to enter the province.
International returnees must self-quarantine for 14 days.
DeMille said anyone gathering for Thanksgiving should keep in mind the indoor and outdoor gathering limits in place in Ontario, which for now stand at 10 and 25 respectively. She also advised keeping 10-person social circles intact.
